A proposed state constitutional amendment that would ban same-sex marriage won approval Monday in a Texas House committee.

The resolution filed by Rep. Warren Chisum, R-Pampa, would allow Texas voters to decide whether to amend the constitution to define marriage as a union only between one man and one woman. The measure now moves to the full House.

Randall Ellis, executive director of the Lesbian/Gay Rights Lobby of Texas, said the resolution discriminates against gay Texans. Marriage affords hundreds of legal rights, including the ability to visit a spouse in the hospital, he said.

"If we want to truly protect families, we must begin to afford equal rights, responsibilities and obligations to same-sex households," Ellis said.

The House State Affairs Committee, after hearing hours of testimony on the proposal last week, approved the measure 6-1 on Monday. Democratic Rep. Jessica Farrar of Houston was the only dissenting vote.

If the proposal is approved by a two-thirds majority in the House and Senate, it could appear on a statewide ballot later this year.